Agni Purana

प्रतिष्ठायाः पञ्च भेदास्तेषां रूपं वदामि ते। यत्र ब्रह्मशिलायोगः सा प्रतिष्ठा विशेषतः

There are five kinds of installation; I shall tell you their forms: where there is union with the Brahma-stone, that is especially called installation.

स्थापनन्तु यथायोगं पीठ एव निवेशनं। प्रतिष्ठाभिन्नपीठस्य स्थितस्थापनमुच्यते

Establishing according to proper method is the placing of the seat; the establishment of a seat not separate from the installation is called fixed establishment.

उत्थापनञ्च सा प्रोक्ता लिङ्गोद्धारपुरःसरा। यस्या तु लिङ्गमारोप्य संस्कारः क्रियते बुधैः

And the raising up is said to be that which is preceded by the removal of the liṅga; in which, after raising the liṅga, consecration is performed by the wise.

आस्थापनं तदुद्दिष्टं द्विधा विष्णवादिकस्य च । आसु सर्व्वासु चैतन्यं नियुञ्जीत परं शिवम्

That establishment, as described, is of two kinds for Viṣṇu and others; in all of these, one should invoke the supreme, auspicious consciousness.

यदाधारादिभेदेन प्रासादेष्वपि पञ्चधा। परीक्षामथ मेदिन्याः कुर्य्यात्प्रासादकाम्यया

When, due to differences such as the foundation and so on, there are five types even among temples, then, desiring to build a temple, one should examine the earth.

शुक्लाज्यगन्धा रक्ता च रक्तगन्धा सुगन्धिनी । पीता कृष्णा सुरादनधा विप्रादीनां मही क्रमात्

White, clarified butter-scented; red, red-scented and fragrant; yellow, black, unscented by liquor—such are the soils for priests and others, in order.

पूर्व्वेशोत्तरसर्वत्र पूर्वा चैषां विशिष्यते । आखाते हास्तिके यस्याः पूर्णे मृदधिका भवेत्

In the east, north, and everywhere, the eastern soil is especially praised; in the pit, if it is full and yields much clay, it is best.

उत्तमान्तां महीं विद्यात्तोयाद्यैर्वा समुक्षितां। अस्थ्यङ्गारादिभिर्दुष्टामत्यन्तं शोधयेद् गुरुः

One should know the earth as excellent up to the lowest, or washed with water and the like; if corrupted by bones, charcoal, and so on, the teacher should thoroughly purify it.

नगरग्रामदुर्गार्थं गृहप्रासादकारणं । खननैर्गोकुलावासैः कर्षणैर्वा मुहुर्मुहुः

For the purpose of city, village, or fortress, or for building houses and temples, by repeated digging or plowing with cattle, one should prepare the ground.

मण्डपे द्वारपूजादि मन्त्रतृप्त्यवसानकं । कर्म्म निर्वर्त्याघोरास्त्रं सहस्रं विधिना यजेत्

In a pavilion, after door worship and the like, and the completion of the rite with mantras, one should perform a thousand offerings with the Aghora weapon, according to the rule.

समीकृत्योपलिप्तायां भूमौ संशोधयेद्दिशः। स्वर्णदध्यक्षतै रेखाः प्रकुर्वीत प्रदक्षिणं

Having leveled and plastered the ground, one should purify the directions; with gold, curds, and unbroken grains, one should draw lines in a clockwise direction.

मध्यादीशानकोष्ठस्थे पूर्णकुम्भे शिवं यजेत्। वाचस्तुमभ्यर्च्य तत्तोयैः सिञ्चेत् कुद्दालकादिकं

In the center, in the northeast corner, having placed a full pot, one should worship Śiva; after honoring the officiant, one should sprinkle the digging tools with that water.

वाह्ये रक्षोगणानिष्ट्वा विधिना दिग्बलिं क्षिपेत्। भूमिं संसिच्य संस्नाप्य कुद्दालाद्यं प्रपूजयेत्

Having ritually appeased the hosts of demons outside, one should offer oblations to the quarters; sprinkling and bathing the ground, one should worship the digging tools and the rest.

अन्यं वस्त्रयुगच्छन्नं कुम्भं स्कन्धे द्विजन्मनः। निधाय गीतवाद्यादिब्रह्मघोषसमाकुलं

Another pot, covered with a pair of cloths, is placed on the shoulder of a twice-born; accompanied by singing, music, and the sound of Brahmins.

पूजां कुम्भे समाहृत्य प्राप्ते लग्नेऽग्निकोष्ठके। कुद्दालेनाभिषिक्तेन मध्वक्तेन तु खानयेत्

Having completed the worship of the pot, when the auspicious moment for the fire-pit arrives, one should dig with a consecrated spade, moistened with honey.

नैर्ऋत्यां क्षेपयेन्मृत्स्नां खाते कुम्भजलं क्षिपेत्। पुरस्य पूर्व्वसीमान्तं नयेद् यावदभीप्सितं

One should place the earth in the southwest, and pour the water from the pot into the pit; then lead it to the desired eastern boundary of the site.

अथ तत्र क्षणं स्थित्वा भ्रामयेत् परितः पुरं। सिञ्चन् सीमान्तचिह्णानि यावदीशानगोचरं

Then, standing there for a moment, one should walk around the site, sprinkling the boundary markers as far as the northeast region extends.

अर्घ्यदानमिदं प्रोक्तं तत्र कुम्भपरिभ्रमात्। इत्थं परिग्रहं भूमेः कुर्व्वीत तदनन्तरं

This offering of arghya is prescribed there, after circling with the pot; thus, one should take possession of the land thereafter.

कर्करान्तं जलान्तं वा शल्यदोषजिघांसया। खानयेद् भूः कुमारीं चेद् विधिना शल्यमुद्धरेत्

If the earth is gravelly or watery, in order to remove defects or impurities, one should dig the earth; if there is a foreign object, a maiden should remove it according to the rule.

अकचटतपयशहान् मानवश्चेत् प्रश्नाक्षराणि तु । अग्नेर्ध्वजादिपतिताः स्वस्थाने शल्यमाख्यान्ति

If a man is without hair, teeth, or milk, then the auspicious letters, as they fall from the banner of Agni and the like, indicate the presence of a foreign object in its place.

कर्त्तुं श्चाङ्गविकारेण जानीयात्तत्प्रमाणतः। पश्वादीनां प्रवेशेन कीर्त्तनैर्विरुतैर्द्दिशः

One should recognize the measure for action by deformity of the limb; by the entry of animals and the like, by their movements and cries, the directions are indicated.

मातृकामष्टवर्गाढ्यां फलके भुवि वा लिखेत्। शल्यज्ञानं वर्गवशात् पूर्वादीशान्ततः क्रमात्

One should inscribe the eightfold group of Mothers on a board or on the ground; knowledge of the thorn is determined by the group, proceeding in order from the east to the end of the directions.

अवर्गे चैव लोहन्तु कवर्गेऽङ्गारमग्नितः। चवर्गे भस्म दक्षे स्याट् टवर्गेऽस्थि च नैर्ऋते

Where there is no group, use iron; in the 'ka' group, use coal from fire; in the 'ca' group, use ash; in the 'ṭa' group, use bone in the southwest.

तवर्गे चेष्टका चाप्ये कपालञ्च पवर्गके। यवर्गे शवकीटादि शवर्गे लोहमादिशेत्

In the 'ta' group, use a brick; in the 'pa' group, a skull; in the 'ya' group, a worm or similar; in the 'śa' group, use metal.

हवर्गे रजतं तद्वदवर्गाच्चानर्थकरानपि। प्रोक्षयात्मभिः करापूरैरष्टाङ्गुलमृदन्तरैः

In the 'ha' group, use silver; likewise, from the other groups, use harmful items; sprinkle with water, fill with earth to a depth of eight finger-breadths.

पादोनं खातमापूर्य्य सजलैर्मुद्गराहतैः । लिप्तां समप्लवां तत्र कारयित्वा भुवं गुरुः

Dig a pit just less than a foot deep, fill it with wet earth, and strike it with a mallet; having smeared and leveled the ground there, the teacher should proceed.

सामान्यार्घ्यकरो यायान्मण्डपं वक्ष्यमाणकं। तोरणद्वाः पतीनिष्ट्वा प्रत्यग्द्वारेण संविशेत्

Carrying the general offering, he should go to the pavilion to be described; having worshipped at the gateway, he should enter by the western door.

कुर्य्यात्तत्रात्मशुद्ध्यादि कुण्डमण्डपसंस्कृतिं। कलसं वर्द्धनीसक्तं लोकपालशिवार्च्चनं

There, he should perform self-purification and other rites, consecration of the fire-pit and pavilion, the pot joined with the growth vessel, and worship of the guardians of the directions and Shiva.

अग्नेर्जननपूजादि सर्व्वं पूर्ववदाचरेत्। यजमानान्वितो यायाच्छिलानां स्नानमण्डपं

He should perform all the rites for the birth and worship of the fire as before; accompanied by the sacrificer, he should go to the pavilion for the bathing of the stones.